Noury's Creative World…

The neurons are really on vacation today.  Or maybe they are overwhelmed with so much we have to do.  Got a contract on the house…now the reality show goes on the road.

Where am I going to live, when to go to find a place, when to move, legal technicalities, no time to think cute or inspiring things to post about.

Ayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!  That’s what we howl in Spanish when we are hurting.  That’s my psych, my body, and my everything screaming to put my life on the “Pause” button.  Can we do that?  Is there an app for that, Lucy or Lindsay?

I have been trying to move back to Florida for so long now…and now that the occasion is arising pretty soon, I am like a brainless, motionless nano-being.  Boxes, tape, lists and more lists, take art down, fill in holes, paint…pack, donate, sell, tell every living soul that I have pestered for the past two years about my inability to tolerate the “cold” weather of North Carolina.  I sometimes don’t remember who I have told, emailed, or facebooked.  I am into verbalizing names now.  Brain, please stop the process of dummying myself down, so I can have an excuse to do nothing.

But these darlings have been patiently waiting for me for months.  It is pony-up time!  Where do I start?  Need to think about it…I’ll think about it tomorrow.  Fresher neurons, better attitude and…nada mas.  Nothing else.  I am really, really tired and hungry.

I need to warn you…postings are going to be a mixed bag of much about nothing, or much about much.  Makes sense?  In Spanish it does.  Thanks for putting up with me today.

So it was today…6 June, 2011…a day to get ready to get going to prepare to move to the Sunshine State.

Your Happy Contessa

“Don’t think, just do.”  Horace, Roman lyric poet, 8 December, 65 BC -27 November, 8 BC.

This past Saturday I attended a beautiful wedding ceremony at the Duke’s Chapel in Durham, North Carolina.

You know about weddings…everybody look so pretty or handsome, best behavior on the moment, all smiles, hello, and more hello.  The music was very touching, not a note out-of-place, instruments all sounded just harmonious, and then…here comes the bride.  She looked stunning…beautiful or should I say, gorgeous brunette, very bright red lipstick, and a dress that made her look as if she was floating in space.  Magical moments.

Then of course, you know my mind.  The vows time came and while the usual words were being hummed along, I made my own version of the traditional vows.  For richer…or much more wealthier, in health or hit the diet and look like now (assuming he really looks trim and proper),  to love and to appreciate, that is until our egos do us part.  Let’s be innovative here. Needless to say, vows are for both genders.   We have changed as a society, we change values, traditions, but when the push comes to shove, we are looking at the big elephant in the middle of the couple and pretend that the beautiful white (or any color goes in these days) dress and the tuxedo are all the requirements to make it.  Dream on!

I am not implying that in this lovely couple,  that is their case, certainly not.  But it made me ponder on how we like to live in a world of fantasies.  My mind is always wondering.  We’ll always prefer illusions to reality.

Took pictures of the inside of the chapel.  Just magnificent.  It reminded me on a much lower scale, about Notre Dame in France.  Unfortunately all the inside pictures were blurred.  except for these ones.  What a shame!

Left is the altar, majestic with its simplicity and right is part of the ceiling with architectural details so similar to Notre Dame in France.  I am learning to appreciate details about the places I am visiting that I was totally oblivious before.  The difference is in the details.  Just like life.  Details…and more details.

That’s me sitting on a bench dedicated by the Class of 1948.  The year I was born.  What a coincidence.  This is on the lawn in front of the beautiful Chapel.  Tried to look proper for an almost summer wedding.

Then later on we went to the reception.  Food, libation, music and toasts.  We must be careful who we choose to make toasts.  It is one of the most important days in the lives of a couple, so be selective.

We should celebrate our weddings on a daily basis and remember why we chose our spouse, what made them special and maybe, just maybe, marriages will have a higher percentage of survival in the jungle and battle of the egos.

I am very happy my beautiful daughter asked me to be her date.  I had a swell time.

So it was today…June 5, 2011, a day of bonding with my daughter and reliving nice memories of the beginning of a beautiful couple’s married life.

Your Happy Contessa

“Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails.”  1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Welcome back to the 80’s!  Let start at the beginning…

My lovely and gorgeous daughter, Milagros, just invited me to be her date to attend a wedding in, here we go again, Durham, North Carolina.  Wasn’t I just there last Saturday?  Durham it is.  The young lady that is getting married attended the same school Milagros did, so they are friends.  The wedding is going to be at the Duke Chapel.  I am so looking forward to being at the Chapel for this occasion.

Now…the real challenge.  I don’t have an outfit to wear to that wedding.  It is at 4:00 pm, so I guess is semi-formal?  You know, we senior chicks take everything very a-la-traditional.  I would rather err on the side of too much, than on the side of too little.  Elegance has never hurt anyone that we know of.  I am going to look my part.  That is, try to look semi-gorgeous, because the whole gorgeous business is too late for me even to try.

Dress?  Long skirt with a stunning blouse and belt.  What about shoes and evening bag?  Why again, am I going to this event?  Because my daughter requested the honor of my presence.  Have to remember that every second my stomach gets on a knot.

What about the chambers of horror when I go in to try the outfits?  My hair is getting already nervous about this.  Oh, yes, do I need a trim or a haircut?  Nails, toes, come to think about it, I need a new me.  Does anyone know where can I buy a new person to substitute the slob of me.  Need to be on sale too, remember that just yesterday I am on a short leash in reference to money do or don’t.

My friends, I just realized that the last time I got made up to look real cool was the day that photo was taken.  I was going with my darling husband to a Christmas party.  Since then I have not been really playing get beautiful once.  How sad, but how comfortable.  Those were really high heels, and you know what happened recently to my legs when I tried to get into something a bit higher than the floor.  Cramping business galore.  But this time I am getting some pills if necessary, but I am riding on high hells, I mean, heels.  Yes siree.

This should be very interesting.  Tomorrow I am out to search for just the perfect outfit and the perfect new me.  I can feel the bags under my eyes already puffing more than usual.  Cucumbers?  Is that what it takes to bring those bags down?  We’ll see.

So it was today, 2 June, 2011…a day that I got asked on a date…

I, or the new me, will be back on Monday.  Make it a great weekend.  Life is short, live loud.

Your Happy Contessa

“To be or not to be… me.”

No…it is not “that” time of the month for me…I am 62 1/2…it is the other time of the month.  The real time, if you ask me.  No cramps, no mood swings, no supplies, no pms, no nothing.  Just the now you see it, now you don’t syndrome.  I mean, in comes the money, out goes the money.  Today is the first of June, and the money, all of it is already accounted for.  Talk about symptoms for “la depre.”

But I am grateful that at least incoming funds are enough to cover my needs and a tiny, tiny maybe want.  Some chocolate, por favor (please) in Spanish.  Hey not only are you being entertained, you are learning to be bilingual or trilingual.  C’est la vie.  You can tell the muses are really in a far, far away land.  This is so lame.

But we must continue…Early this morning, around 1:30 am, the soft-spoken very sophisticated alarm from my cell phone woke me up to a very delicate tone.  I thought, maybe it knows it is so early, so it has to wake me up in a delicate way.  How smart!

I wanted to watch “live” the return of the last trip of the Space Shuttle Endeavour.  You get  a total different feeling when you watch it as it happens.  I was watching it through NASA TV, and I started very early in the process.  It is fascinating for me that the crew of this space vehicle get to live their dream or fantasies of being out there in space.  Looking at our beautiful and fragile at the same time planet must be a sight beyond our imagination.  What an unforgettable experience and tale to tell.  If you are interested, you can go to NASA TV and watch the video about how the journey of Endeavour started.  It is so much better than reading science fiction.  The brilliance of our minds at work.

Here is another shot I got with my camera.  By this time they were getting ready to go and get the crew out.  You can still watch the video, if you wish.  Fascinating.  Made it back to bed around 3:00 am, very happy that I had this unique experience.  Cultivating relationships and living meaningful experiences are very important for me in this stage of my journey.

So it was today, 1 June, 2011, another day to ponder on the “enough for my needs”…and the brilliance of our minds.

Your Happy Contessa

“That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.”  Commander Neil Armstrong, Apollo 11 Mission to the Moon, July 20, 1969 upon landing in the Sea of Tranquility.

This is really getting old…the sale of my house…I mean.  Today I had another “showing.”  I don’t know how many dirty feet and shoes have left their imprints on my carpet.  As you can tell, I am getting a bit frustrated with this process.

Why wouldn’t someone just take this lovely home away from me?  Oh, yes, another reduction in price.  Maybe this will open the floodgates.  I need to move to a warmer place come next winter.  Right now you can fry an egg on my sidewalk.  Even I am a bit hot.  That was not easy to say.  I love warm weather.  Caribbean girl.

It has been a while since I put my house on the market.  Vacuum, and more vacuum, dusting, cleaning three toilets more often than necessary, cannot boil eggs, cook salmon, or use any aroma that may offend prospective buyers.  Talking about stress.  Do not want to rent the house, because my precious little mind will be 24/7/365 worried that the cat, or dog, or kids will think this is a play pen, and there goes the investment.  Just need to sell the ranch.

In the meantime, this past Saturday had a very nice time visiting family.  Do not have their permission to use their image, so I will just show you mine.  Hair is learning how to cope with mini-convertibles.  I prayed so many clouds away.  Big ones may I say and really looking threatening.  Rain, rain keep away.  One thing is wind-blown hair, and another is rained on hair.  Even in my incredible imagination I cannot even go there.  That’s a picture no one, and I mean no one could see and be able to go to sleep that night.  That’s how bad it gets.

There you have the well-behaved mane of hair after being exposed to incredible high winds of almost 80 miles an hour.

My friends, this business of posting daily is not getting any easier.  I think I have discussed my hair, and so many other parts of my anatomy, birds, flowers, and etc., etc.  Those pesky little muses are really being missed.  Just hang loose with me.  This stage of my inspirational well getting so dry shall pass one of these days.

To sell or not to sell…thereby lies the question.  Sell, sell and sell is the answer.  I already learned to be patient Lord, but please don’t make me take the test.

So it was today…31 May, 2011…would you believe it?  Do I hear jingles…no, there’s my imagination again.

Your Happy Contessa

“That’s very well said, and may all be true, but let’s cultivate our garden.”  Voltaire in Candide.  French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher.  21 November, 1694 – 30 May, 1778.

Back in the Summer of 2009, when I was getting my wardrobe ready for my dream trip of 46 years to Paris, France, I was in a store, and passing by this dress, it called my attention.  It was on the sale rack, so that made it more appealing.  I went quickly to try it on in the you know by now, the chamber of horrors (Fitting Room).  Lights, mirrors, and action…arms, flabby, tummy with some rolls that were not there before I left the house and cellulitis galore.  But I pretended I wasn’t looking, and with my 20% additional discount, the dress was almost given to me for free.

In my mind this is what I envisioned; full-blown sun tanned arms and legs, 15 additional pounds needed to be shed, cool sunglasses, and hair flowing freely with the wind.  Maybe the French Riviera?  You know how creative my imagination is.  I was going all the way full speed.

Found the high-heeled sandals, that when I tried them in the store, my legs cramped up, but I told them to shut up and not to complain.  Bought them anyway.  I would need assistance to walk on these, but I would figure those details later.  I was going to be one hot mama in that dress, pearls, sandals, sunglasses and maybe a hat a-la-Garbo.  Did she ever wear a hat?  She was cool.  Oh yes, also,  hot red lipstick.  In my mind I was a total good-looking-diva.

Fast forward two years…I am cleaning my closet and the dress again was whispering my name.  It did it before but I pretended I couldn’t understand English or Spanish.  I wasn’t ready for the “look.”    But today, I tried the dress again, with the accessories, including the high-heeled sandals.  Oh man, cramps galore.  I thought that was only an illusion when I bought them.  I almost had to crawl out of them.

Then…mirror, mirror on the wall, the bathroom, the living room and all elsewhere.  The moment of truth arrived.  Merciless,  I looked as if I had gained 30 pounds, instead of losing 15, where is that push-up bra when you need one,  the legs looked pitiful, and shaking from the cramping, and also in a total disbelief, I couldn’t continue to watch the image being reflected back to me from this woman who I didn’t recognize at all.  Does she live here?  What’s her name.  Almost nauseated I took off that outfit, went to the garage to get a nice shopping bag, tissue paper and gently placed the dress and the shoes that were never meant to be in the bag and very ceremoniously took it away from my sight.

What went wrong?  Was my imagination so far off?  But, one thing for sure, I will not stop trying again to chase that image I envisioned that day.  There’s always hope.  Maybe if I exercise a bit more, do more dancing and lose a few extras you know what, I can get an even sexier little black dress.  Yes, I can.  Everybody else does, why not me.

Let me in a secret.  This is my second writing of this posting.  The first one disappeared totally.  This is the second time it has happened.  The first version was funnier, but…I cannot cry over a gone with the crapola first posting.  This is the best I was able to reconstruct.  Hope you enjoy another day in my pretend world.

So it was today, 30 May, 2011, a day of disappearing postings, facing reality checks, and contemplating buying kinder and gentler mirrors.  There’s only so much one can take.

Your Happy Contessa

“Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.”  I am the only beholder..so…

Who is a Patriot?

Someone who is unselfish.

Someone who puts his or her life at risk for the sake of others, it doesn’t matter who they may be.

Someone who looks out for the welfare of the others in his or her unit.

Someone who gives strength to others even when he or she is facing weak moments themselves.

Someone who lives the principles of the foundation of our beloved country.

Someone to whom we owe an endless debt of gratitude.

Someone that will keep our red, white and blue flying on top of our Capitol Building, the White House, our homes and all throughout our land.

Someone who protects our freedoms, our rights, and our Constitution.

Someone who is my brother, my sister, and appreciates more than any of us our freedom.

Someone that will make the ultimate sacrifice for us to live at peace in our country.

And that, my fellow countrymen and women, is my patriot and my hero.

God bless us all and God bless the United States of America.

This is my essay to honor our beloved departed veterans and our beloved active and retired service men and women of our national defense.

So it is today, 30 May, 2011…Memorial Day…to honor and salute…

Your Happy Contessa

“…We hold these truths to be self-evident:  That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”  From The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America.

One day this week I was watching the news and there was a segment about the cost of education.  This particular father had attended an Ivy League school and he was stating that he didn’t think it was worth it for his daughter to attend college, because the high cost of education.  The saddest part was when the interviewer asked the young girl, around 10 or 12, if she agreed with her father,  she said, yes, she didn’t see the point in incurring this high amount of debt, because after all, it was not worth it.

It saddened me to see what a good job this man had done with his daughter brainwashing her, to the point that she probably would not even consider furthering her education.  What a selfish human being.  I am referring to her father.  How dared he take away the privilege of his daughter having the opportunity to being exposed to the world of higher education.  I am talking for myself here.  I did not have an opportunity to attend college because I was raised in a family that their motto was that women are only good to get married, raise children and take care of the husband.  Most of the time the man would have the mentality of a macho type that thought that he was doing this woman a favor by marrying her.  I cannot up to a point blame the guy, because the culture was ingrained with that kind of thinking.  Thanks God poco a poco that trend is being discontinued.

When I came to the mainland in 1978, I was in awe at all the opportunities people of all kinds have in this country.  But, being the type of person that I am, I saw that education is the only way to better oneself and I was continuously reading and taking any opportunity I was given to become more knowledgeable and I exposed myself to all kinds of avenues that would lead me to become a better person.

Then, there came my daughter Milagros.  From day number one, I knew I would do everything within my reach and power to give her an opportunity to attend one of the best schools this country has to offer.  You see, education for your child has to be given the same consideration and planning as to anything that has top priority in your life.  I started doing research, and more research.  I believe your input equals your output in efforts and actions.  Cost of her education was not even remotely in my plans.  I thought, first she has to get there, and when she gets accepted to the school of her choice, then even if I had to work 24/7/365 holding whatever number of jobs I had to do, I would do it.

A good education is the best legacy any parent can give their child.  Right in there also, is the opportunity to lead them into a good solid spiritual life.  Because when that time comes that I cease to exist, I can take that last breath so much easier.  I have done my job for my child, and for my country.  It is interesting to point out how we rate as a country in education compared to other leading nations.  Much improvement needed.

So it was today…26 May, 2011…a day to establish priorities in relation to give our children an opportunity to start their adult life with the tools needed to succeed.  When you have higher education the doors to opportunities open faster than if you don’t.

I take this opportunity to honor and show appreciation to those that have made the ultimate sacrifice for world peace and our country.  Happy Memorial Day.

Make this a happy weekend.  I will be back on Tuesday.

Your Happy Contessa

“I find that I have painted my life…things happening in my life…without knowing.”  Georgia O’Keeffe, American artist, 15 November 1887 – 6 March, 1986

And there she was…today was the last episode of the Oprah Winfrey show as we knew it.  I am looking forward to see what she may have in storage to keep us enlightened.

“Each one of you have your own platform…”   That phrase she used at the beginning,  and it stock with me for the remaining part of the show.  Almost every word that she said was precious to me.  She is absolutely right.  We may have a platform with an audience of one, two, three, or millions, as she did.   The important thing is to be careful how we use this platform of power we inadvertently have.

I am grateful to all my readers.  Even though I have a petite platform,  I am very appreciative of having each one of you to share my thoughts with five days a week.  If you watched Oprah’s last show, you will see where from I get a lot of my life’s beliefs and my way of thinking.  I have learned so much from this woman as to how not to be judgemental, how to be more compassionate and how to be more giving, even when the gift I give is very small.  She also taught me how to be a better listener, to watch the power of my words, and most of all, to acknowledge others’ need to be listened to and to be  understood.

She is so gifted and she knows it.  She allowed others to enlighten us with their wisdom, without minding who was getting the credit.  Her main intention was to give us the privilege of getting acess to others’ way of thinking and knowledge.  I think the secret to her success is that she is not afraid to be herself.  Sometimes when she acknowledged some of her weaknesses, we felt that it is ok not to be perfect.  She also transmitted her strength to us all when we needed a friend to look up to.

I am now contemplating as to how I can enrich those around my platform to help each one of us to become a happier and peaceful people.  That’s the least I can do.

Miss Oprah, thank you for your devotion to your viewers and may God continue to guide you as to how you will be still enlightening us all with your wisdom and spiritual gifts.

And as your last words were,  “To God be the Glory.”

So it was today, 25 May, 2011, Miss Oprah Winfrey’s new beginning in her search to continue to teach us what she knows for sure.

Your Happy Contessa

“To know when one’s self is interested, is the first condition of interesting other people.”  Walter Pater, English essayist, critic of art and literature, and fiction writer.

Photos taken from Oprah’s last show.  Thanks to Harpo Productions.

Isn’t it just the perfect color, the perfect contrast, the perfect size, in conclusion, just perfect to remind me during my walk this morning about the gratuitous gifts of nature, if we just take the time to observe all around us.  It was just there by a mail box in all its splendor waiting to be admired, which I did.  Mission accomplished.  At least I noticed a fabulous display in all its perfection.

These hydrangeas are from Miss Raylene’s garden, now gracing my eyes and my table.  I believe you can transmit appreciation and admiration to flowers, animals and most important, to other human beings.  No questions about it.  Look at the balance in the different shades of colors on these flowers.  No one or anything can create such harmonious display of color and fragrance, when it’s possible.  It makes me ponder about the abundance of gifts bestowed upon us by our Creator.

Oops!  Someone lost a feather.  Big one you may notice.  Do you think it was during a fight, or struggling to survive?  I wonder where its owner is right now.  Hopefully this creature has or had incredible beautiful memories to keep on carrying on.  I need to remind myself that the goodness of life so outweighs the misfortunes we sometimes are faced with.  Balance, need to keep everything in balance and perspective.

I am closing this brief post with this collection of flowers I admired a few weeks ago.

It is my intention with each posting I do to transmit to my readers the abundance of beauty, goodness, and excellence all of us are constantly surrounded with.  Sometimes I add humor, because even our Creator has a sense of humor.  Must have one to have to deal with all of us.

So it was today…24 May, 2011…a day with a bouquet of flowers from me to all of you.  Be happy!!!!

Your Happy Contessa

“A wise man sees as much as he ought, not as much as he can.”  Michel De Montaigne, French, one of the most influential writers of the French Renaissance.  28 February, 1533 – 13 September, 1592.